A St. Petersburg Police Officer has been fired and two more
suspended following a shooting during the investigation of an occupied stolen
car on April 15.
Officers Disciplined:
• Officer
George Graves, 30, was fired. He had been with the department since November
2008.
• Officer
Brandon Bill, 32, received an 80-hour unpaid suspension. He has been with the
department since November 2008.
• Officer
Richard Bishop, 31, also received an 80-hour unpaid suspension. He has been a
police officer since May 2011.
An internal investigation found Bill and Bishop were at
fault for walking in front of the vehicle while leaving a position of safety
and shooting at the moving vehicle.
Graves had several violations, including "serious
neglect, incompetence, or inefficiency in the performance of assigned
duties."
How It Happened?
According to police, Bill and Bishop approached the stolen
vehicle unaware it was occupied. Once they realized it was, they drew their
firearms and shouted commands at the occupants.
Police said the driver of the stolen car opened the door but
then began to drive away. Bishop then walked in front of the moving vehicle and
fired his gun at the driver while he was stumbling backward.
The vehicle then tried to turn north in the alley, located
between 26th Street South and Auburn Street, but struck a tree. Bill moved
toward the vehicle but as he approached, the vehicle backed up and hit Bill on
the holster of his right hip.
After being hit, Bill was now stuck between the fence and
the car. Bill said fearing he would be crushed, he began shooting at the
driver's side of the car. Thinking Bill was in danger, officials said Bishop
fired his gun a second time.
The vehicle continued to back out and left the alley.
Graves, who police said has taken a perimeter in the alley,
heard multiple gunshots and left his vehicle. He saw the car leaving the scene
and he fired his gun twice, police said.
According to police, the car stopped in another alley and
the female passenger of the car was taken into custody and treated for a
non-life threatening gunshot wound. The driver fled but was later captured.
Graves was cited for carrying two firearms, telling an
inconsistent story to the department and carelessly shooting at a moving
vehicle.
According to the police shooting review board, Graves
"heard the initial rounds being discharged in the alley, but had no
information of what had actually occurred. He was aware they were working a
stolen vehicle as he had helped with the surveillance.
"His testimony was very inconsistent with the evidence
of the case," the police report continued. "He fired two rounds at
the vehicle, which was over 90 ft. away when he discharged his firearm, and the
vehicle was traveling away from him in a 90-degree direction. No one was being
threatened with death or great bodily harm at the time he discharged his weapon